Hospitalisation and use of medication of Danish nursing home residents at the end of life.

Introduction: The end-of-life period remains sparsely investigated in Danish nursing home residents. This study aimed to estimate medication use, drug reimbursement for terminal illness and hospital admissions and to compare these estimates between two groups of nursing home residents.

Methods: This small-scale observational study was based on residents who died while residing in a nursing home in 2019. Medication use was estimated three months before the residents' death. Estimates for residents registered with a GP designated to the nursing home were compared with estimates for residents who maintained their usual GP.

Results: We included 67 residents (mean age: 88 years, 78% female). On average, residents with a designated GP (n = 21) received ten different medications, and residents who maintained their usual GP (n = 46) received seven. In all, 90% of residents were prescribed on average three "often inadequate" medications in their final three months of life. Furthermore, 39 (58%) residents received drug reimbursement for terminal illness; most were residents who maintained their usual GP (65% versus 43%). Among residents who had a designated GP, five (24%) died at the hospital compared with eight (17%) of the residents who maintained their usual GP.

Conclusions: The residents received many drugs, including "often inadequate" medication, in the three months leading up to their death. No significant differences were found between the two groups. A stronger focus should be placed on optimising end-of-life care for nursing home residents.

Funding: Honoraria received from the Danish Medical Association.

Trial Registration: not relevant.